Ahmadinejad unhurt after explosion

Tuesday, May 24, 2011 - 01:11

May 24 - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is unscathed after an explosion hits an oil refinery he was visiting. Simon Hanna reports.

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An explosion that hit an oil refinery during a visit by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has left two people dead and twelve injured.
The President himself was unscathed and appeared on state television shortly after the blast.
The semi-official Mehr news agency said the cause of the explosion was a gas leak.
The company that operates the refinery said that any damage would soon be repaired.
The managing director described it as a minor incident.
(SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) MANAGING DIRECTOR OF ABADAN REFINERY, ABDOLREZA MEHRBAN:
"Unfortunately we had a minor incident which led to a death, but the rest of the injuries were no severely wounded and apart from those who are being hospitalised, the others were treated at the scene and hopefully they will get better soon."
While industrial accidents are not rare in Iran's oil industry, the country's vital oil and gas infrastructure have often been targets for sabotage.
Simon Hanna, Reuters.